Device for combing or picking hair

ABSTRACT

A device for combing or picking hair which is compact, small, and readily carried on the person or in a pocketbook or purse, and comprises a housing which supports slidable fingers or picks which are manually retractable to a position entirely within said housing or to a position exteriorly of said housing for use in combing or picking hair, same having releasable means for locking the fingers or picks in either retracted or fully extended position and also wherein said picks may be positioned at intermediate positions and held in such intermediate positions while being used.

[ 1 Apr. 22, 1975 ABSTRACT A device for combing or picking hair which iscompact. small.

hich

supports slidable fingers or picks which are manually of said housingfor use in combing or picking hair, same having releasable PrimaryE.\'uminer-G. E. McNeill Attorney, Agent. or Firm-Max R. Kraus andreadily carried on the person or in a pocketbook or purse, and comprisesa housing w retractable to a position entirely within said housing or toa position exteriorly means for locking the fingers or picks in eitherretracted or fully extended position and also wherein S m .md .Hb S 06 Me .m s 8 e m m.m u T." g s N F .m 3 H mm a d a 6 0 mm D nr 6 Pi 3 eh hbe C v. u a 5 I .m B .we 0. n .m w p ans sau 2 l HI! H DEVICE FORCOMBING 0R PICKING HAIR Inventor: George Ransaw. 8059 S. Merrill Ave.Chicago. Ill. 60617 Filed: Oct. 4, 1973 Appl. No.: 403,523

Int. A45d 1/00 Field of Search......... l32/9. H. 762. I49. I92.l32/l6l. 76.2: 206/37 References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS UnitedStates Patent Ransaw Cournoyer...........

1 DEVICE FOR COMBING ()R PICKING HAIR BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThis invention is directed to a device which is compact. small. andwhich may be carried on the person or in a pocketbook. and includes ahousing which supports slidable picks or fingers which when in non-useposition are held retracted entirely within the housing and which may bemanually moved to fully extended position to extend exteriorly of thehousing for use in combing or picking the hair on the head. andparticularly suitable for the Afro hair style. and may also be used inconnection with teasing and styling of other hair styles. said devicehaving means for locking said picking teeth in either retracted or fullyextended position and also the teeth may be positioned in intermediatepositions and retained in such intermediate positions while being used.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of the foregoingcharacter which may be economically manufactured.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the drawings:

FIG. I is a plan view of the device with a portion broken away. showingthe fingers or picks locked in fully extended position.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIG. I and showing theparts when in a locked position against sliding movement.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing the actuatorspressed inwardly to permit the fingers or picks to he slid relative tothe housing.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary plan view showing the actuator. the resilientmeans for operating the actuator and the inner ends of the fingers orpicks.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1. showing in full lines the fingers orpicks partially extended and in dotted lines the holder and fingersfully retracted; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but of a modification.

The device comprises a housing generally indicated at 10 which is formedof two identically constructed sections 12, molded preferably of aplastic material and economically produced. Since each of said sectionsare of identical construction only one section will be described indetail.

Each section I2 forming the housing has a wall 14. the exterior surfaceof which is ornamented and provided with transversely extending ribswhich serves as both an ornamental surface and for easy gripping. Theinterior surface of the wall 14 is provided at one end with atransversely extending raised portion 16 and at the other end with atransversely extending raised portion [8 which has spaced recesses orgrooves 20 which form the guide grooves for guiding the picks or fingerswhen the two sections 12 are joined together to form the housing 10. Theinside wall [4 is provided adjacent each of the opposite sides with alongitudinally extending rib 22 which terminates short of and is spacedfrom the transversely extending members 16 and I8 respectively. and theribs provide shoulders 24 and 26 at each of the opposite ends of saidribs which form stops for the slidable member to be described. Extendinginwardly and centrally positioned are two spaced longitudinallyextending ribs 28 which extend the full length (Ill of said wall andextend between the transverse members l6 and 18.

The slidable member of the device is generally indicated at 30 andcomprises a slidable holder 32 which is likewise formed of two identicalsections 34. formed preferably of plastic. which are adapted to besecured together. with the fingers or picks generally indicated at 36therebetween to form the holder for said fingers. The holder 32 is ofgenerally rectangular shape and is provided with spaced recesses orgrooves 38 on the opposite sides which are adapted to be alined with andride on the central ribs 28 of the housing. A cutout or recess 40 isformed adjacent each of the ends of the holder 32 and positioned in eachsaid cutout or recess is a strip of sponge rubber 42 which serves as theresilient or spring means for moving the manually operated actuatormembers generally indicated at 44 outwardly when manually released. Theinside surface of each of the sections 34 forming the holder 32 isrecessed to form a plurality of U-shaped recesses 46 for accommodatingthe U-shaped ends 37 of the fingers or picks 36. It will be seen thatthe fingers or picks 36 are formed so that a pair of spaced fingers. forexample 3611 and 36b. are integrally connected at their inner ends toform the U-shaped ends 37 which are secured in the U- shaped recesses 46of the holder 32.

The manually operated actuators 44 are adapted to cooperate with thesponge rubber inserts 42 and are adapted to be manually pressed inwardlyby the fingers of the hand for operating the slidable member 30. Each ofthe manually operated actuators 44 has an outer end 47 which is ofgenerally H-shaped configuration in transverse section providingoppositely facing vertical channels 48. with the outer surface beingribbed or cor rugated as at 49 to facilitate manual gripping orengagement with the fingers of a hand. Extending inwardly from the innerwall of the H-shaped configuration is a lateral extension 50 whichterminates in a forwardly extending flange or lip 52. As can best beseen in FIGS. 2. 3 and 4. the manually operated actuators 44 areinserted in the cutout portion 40 of the holder 32 with one sideabutting against the end of the cutout and the other against the spongerubber insert 42. The inserts 42 normally tend to urge the manuallyoperated actuating members 44 to the position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 inwhich the actuating members 44 are in their outermost laterallyextending position with respect to the holder 32. In this position theribbed portion 49 of the actuator extends outwardly of the end edges ofthe housing 10 so that they can be manually engaged.

In the extended position the channels 48 of the actuators 44 are not inregistry with the ribs 22 and the holder 32 would not be slidable withrespect to the housing It) for either retracting or extending the picksor fingers 36. In the extended position of the actuators 44 the holder32 would have to be positioned in either its fully forward position. asshown in FIG. I where the holder 32 would be positioned between thetransversely raised portion 18 of the shoulders or stops 24. in whichposition it is locked to maintain the picks or fingers in fully extendedposition. or the holder 32 would be positioned in a fully rearwardposition. as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 5 where the holder 32 ispositioned between the transversely extending raised portion 16 and theshoulders or stops 26 of the ribs 22 which locks the fingers or picks 36in fully retracted position entirely inside the housing 10.

The picks or fingers 36 are made preferably of metal. with the innerends of each pair of fingers having the U-shaped configuration toconnect same. The front end of said picks or fingers is rounded toeliminate any sharp edges. The picks or fingers are inserted between thetwo sections 34 of the holder 32 and then the two sections arepermanently secured together so as to retain said fingers 36 projectingoutwardly thereof. It will be noted that the U-shaped recess 46 in theholder 32 is adjacent the front end of said holder. as best seen in FIG.4, so as not to interfere with the cutout or recess 40 which retains thesponge rubber insert 42. With the holder 32 and picks or fingers 36secured to each other as a unit. the holder is inserted between the twosections 12 of the housing 10 before the two housing sections aresecured together. With the two sections I2 secured together the spacedcentral grooves 38 of the holder will be in registry with thelongitudinal ribs 28 of each of the walls of the housing so that theholder is guided in its sliding movement in relation to the housing bymeans of said ribs. In fully retracted position. as shown in dottedlines in FIG. 5. the holder 32 is positioned against the raised portionl6 of the wall I4. With the manually operated actuators 44 manuallyreleased the parts would be positioned as shown in FIG. 2 and thechannels 48 of the actuators would not be in registry with the ribs 22but the actuators would be engaged by the shoulders or stops 26 to holdthe holder 32 and fingers 36 retracted in the housing. To move thefingers to the extended position shown in FIG. I. the actuators 44 arepressed inwardly to the position shown in FIG. 3 where the ribbedportion 49 is alined substantially with the ends of the housing 10 andwhich lines up the grooves 48 with the ribs 22 so that the holder 32 canbe manually slid forwardly to the position of FIG. I where the holder 32abuts against the transversely extending raised portion I8. By releasingthe actuators 44. the actuators move outwardly. as in FIG. 2. againstthe shoulders or stops 24 of the ribs 22 to lock the holder 32 in itsforward position and the fingers 36 in their fully extended position.the channels 48 of the actuators being out of registry with the ribs 22.To retract the fingers 36 the actuators 44 are pressed inwardly to theFIG. 3 position to permit retraction of the holder 32 and withdrawal ofthe fingers 36.

If it is desired that the fingers 36 be positioned in any intermediateposition. as shown in full lines in FIG. 5, then the actuators 44 areoperated to permit the holder 32 to be slid and the fingers 36 projectedto the extent desired and by holding the housing at the side walls andapplying a slight manual pressure the holder may be retained in saidintermediate position although not positively locked in suchintermediate position.

FIG. 6 shows a modification in which in lieu of the sponge rubberinserts 42 spring means 56 are used for normally urging the manualactuators 44 outwardly. In such instance the holder 32 is provided withmeans for receiving either coil springs. as shown. or leaf springs whichengage the inward lip or flange of the actuator to serve the samepurpose as does the sponge rubber.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for combing or picking hair comprising. a housing. positivestop means within said housing. a holder slidably supported in saidhousing. a plurality of picks or fingers secured to said holder andslidable with said holder. a manually operated actuator supported bysaid holder and extending laterally of the side of said housing formanual actuation from said side. said manually operated actuator whenmanually released at the fully forward and fully rearward positionsengaging said stop means in said housing. for locking said holder ineither its fully rearward position or fully forward position to retainsaid picks or fingers respectively in either fully retracted position orfully extended position with respect to said housing.

2. A device as set forth in claim I in which there is a pair of manuallyoperated actuators. one on each of the opposite sides ends of the holderand in which resilient means normally urge said actuators laterallyoutwardly of said sides ends to positively and fixedly lock said holderagainst sliding movement in either of its fully rearward or forwardpositions.

3. A device as set forth in claim I in which resilient means normallyurges the actuator laterally outwardly of the side of the housing topositively lock the holder against sliding movement in either its fullyrearward or fully forward position.

4. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the housing has ribscooperating with grooves in the holder whereby when said grooves arealined with said ribs said holder is slidable with respect to saidhousing and when disalined said holder will engage either of theopposite ends of said ribs which serve as the stop means to prevent theholder from sliding movement and positively lock the holder in eitherits fully rearward or fully forward position.

5. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which the fingers are formed inpairs and in which each pair of fingers is connected at its inner end bya U-shaped connection which is secured in a correspondingly shapedrecess in the holder.

1. A device for combing or picking hair comprising, a housing, positivestop means within said housing, a holder slidably supported in saidhousing, a plurality of picks or fingers secured to said holder andslidable with said holder, a manually operated actuator supported bysaid holder and extending laterally of the side of said housing formanual actuation from said side, said manually operated actuator whenmanually released at the fully forward and fully rearward positionsengaging said stop means in said housing, for locking said holder ineither its fully rearward position or fully forward position to retainsaid picks or fingers respectively in either fully retracted position orfully extended position with respect to said housing.
 1. A device forcombing or picking hair comprising, a housing, positive stop meanswithin said housing, a holder slidably supported in said housing, aplurality of picks or fingers secured to said holder and slidable withsaid holder, a manually operated actuator supported by said holder andextending laterally of the side of said housing for manual actuationfrom said side, said manually operated actuator when manually releasedat the fully forward and fully rearward positions engaging said stopmeans in said housing, for locking said holder in either its fullyrearward position or fully forward position to retain said picks orfingers respectively in either fully retracted position or fullyextended position with respect to said housing.
 2. A device as set forthin claim 1 in which there is a pair of manually operated actuators, oneon each of the opposite sides ends of the holder and In which resilientmeans normally urge said actuators laterally outwardly of said sidesends to positively and fixedly lock said holder against sliding movementin either of its fully rearward or forward positions.
 3. A device as setforth in claim 1 in which resilient means normally urges the actuatorlaterally outwardly of the side of the housing to positively lock theholder against sliding movement in either its fully rearward or fullyforward position.
 4. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which thehousing has ribs cooperating with grooves in the holder whereby whensaid grooves are alined with said ribs said holder is slidable withrespect to said housing and when disalined said holder will engageeither of the opposite ends of said ribs which serve as the stop meansto prevent the holder from sliding movement and positively lock theholder in either its fully rearward or fully forward position.